Combined chin-truss and ear-compress.



A. P. GOGHRANE. oommmm 011m "muss AND BAR oommmss.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.16, 1913.

Patented June 16, 1914.

liliguznilltum UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE. v

To all whom it may concern:

Be it lmownthat. I, ALBERT P. CoonRANE, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of New York, in thecounty and State of the same name, have invented a certainnew and useful Improvement in Combined Chin- Trusses and Ear-Compresses, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in devices for supporting the chin and confining the ears ofadultsand children and. the objects are, first, to provide means whereby the wearers chin is held with respect tothe head so that the mouth is kept closed, and a second object is 'to confine protruding ears flat against the head.

These objects are attained by the novel construction and arrangement of parts herein-after described and shown in the accom panying drawings, forming part of this specification, and in which:

Figure 1 1s a perspective view of the appliance and illustrating its application. Fig. 2 is similar view 0 the same, unap lied but extended as in use, and, Fig. 8 is a ront elevation of the ear confining member and its connections.

It is well known that many diseases of the nose, throat and bronchial passages are aggravated, or even caused, by the uncleanly and unhealthy custom of breathing through the mouth rather than the nostrils, as ,intended by'nature, and that the obnoxious habit of snoring can only occur when the mouth is open.

This appliance is intended to compel the proper use of the nose, particularly during slumber, preventing sagging of the lower jaw, and hence snoring, dryness of the throat and mucous passages connected therewith, ultimately restoring the muscles of the throat, jaw and face to healthy activity, effecting a permanent cure for mouth breathing and the attendant ills therefrom, without discomfort or inconvenience to the wearer. The appliance is furthermore adapted to overcome the unsightly appearance of outwardly'protruding ears by exertinga gentle pressure upon them tending to train the ear muscles conformably inward to a proper and more desirable appearance.

The invention consists of a chin support or sling 10, of any preferred textile fabric, as silk, linen, or cotton, out and formed to the required shape and provided at its ends Specification of Letters Iatent. P t t e 1 1914, Application. filed August 15 1913. Serial No. 784,893. I

engage, by means of their peculiar connecwith side members 11 and 12, spaced respectively at the front and rear. To these are securely attached the ends of stays or tapes arranged in pairs 13 and 14, adapted to extend upward along the side-of the face and head, one in front of, and the other behind the ear, and adjust-ably engage with clips 15 secured to acrown piece 16, either directly, or indirectly through themedium of reinforcing tapes 17 affixed thereto. The crown plece 16 consists of an elliptical band integrally formed from material of the same nature as that of the chin support, shaped and adapted to suit the top of the head on which it is disposed. Side members or ear confining plates 20, also formed from like material in any preferred shape, as. the disk shown, and provided with a central opening I 21, are arranged to contact with the exterior of the ear; these members are further provided with projections or tabs 22 at each end, the same having a pair of longitudinal slits 23 through which are passed the stays 13 and 14 in such manner as to support and press the ear plates against the side of the head; these plates are vertically adjustable upon the stays, with which they frictionally tions.

In originally adjusting the appliance to the head of the wearer, the stays are first loosened, but not entirely disengaged from their corresponding clips, the crown piece and chin support placed in position, the stays drawn up and tightened in the clips, and adjusted to afford the pressure effect required, which is never sufficient to cause the leastdiscomfort, inconvenience or interference withconversation or the act of swallowing; once the correct adjustment has been obtained, the appliance may he slipped on or off without loosening or the trouble of further adjustment.

Thus I provide a remedial appliance at small cost, capable of being laundried and used indefinitely as there are no rubber or other elastic parts to deteriorate and destroy its usefulness.

Having thus described my invention, What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

In an appliance of the class described, the combination with a head piece to rest on top of the head, of a chin strap to fit under the chin, pairs of substantially parallel stays connecting said head piece and chin strap 10 straps to accommodate the appliance to heads having different dimensions and variously disposed features.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ALBERT P. COCHRAN E.

Witnesses:

BENJ. BROOKS, PIERRE M. CLEAR. 

